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Several toad records were received from the Kirkbymoorside area, some of which were dead. Adult toads were present in Slingsby and at Sykes House, but no evidence of breeding was observed. Not so many frogs appeared at Sykes House. Frogs arrived near their regular breeding ponds on 14/3 in Slingsby and on 9/4 spawn was present at Gilling. At Slingsby spawning occurred a week later with 18 pairs being present. By 15/5 there were numerous tadpoles in the Slingsby pond. More pairs were present in the neighbouring garden pond. Both frogs and toads were seen at Thimbleby near Osmotherley on 22/5 (YNU outing). Five smooth newts were seen in the Slingsby pond on 1/5 and by 30/6 numerous newtpoles were recorded. There were plenty of newts in the pond at Sykes House, both smooth and palmate.
A single slow worm, about 15 inches long, was recorded at Gilling. Two adders coiled together in north Rudland were observed, but no slow worms this year. Three small viviparous lizards were seen on a broken down wall at Thimbleby at the end of May (YNU outing), probably yearlings.
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